Pamela Geller, the controversial Jewish activist whose warnings about radical Islam earned her scorn and fierce opposition on the left -- leading the Great Neck Synagogue to cancel her scheduled appearance last weekend, has also earned admiration on the right, with two other synagogues scheduling her in the wake of the cancellation.

The two synagogues where Geller spoke on Sunday were the Chabad of Great Neck, where the attendance was said to be over 600, and Congregation Beth El in Edison N.J. where she was heard by an estimated 150 – while the synagogue was threatened with a firebombing.

Rabbi Bernhard H. Rosenberg of Beth El, who has written extensively about the Holocaust, said he turned over the threat, made by e-mail, to the police, whom he said were investigating. The unsigned e-mail said, “why do I have the feeling this synagogue will be attacked with firebombs and tainted with swastika graffiti in the coming weeks?”

Additionally, Rabbi Rosenberg’s home was pelted around 40 times, “something was thrown at the garage door” leaving “indentations, big ones.” The police were notified about that, as well, and they’ve brought in “the [Middlesex] county bias people,” said the rabbi.

Despite the attacks that preceded her, “all I can say it was nonsense. The woman is very articulate. There was no meshugas. I found her speech [posted on YouTube] to be very logical and very professional. Geller, to me, seems straight down the pike.”

Even prior to Geller’s speech, the Edison area has experienced inter-religious tensions lately. Rabbi Rosenberg, who has written extensively on the Holocaust, agreed two years ago to omit Hatikvah from the local interfaith Holocaust commemoration when Muslim imams stayed seated in protest while the anthem was being sung, This year the rabbi felt that Hatikvah had to be reinstated because not to do so would be “giving in to the current atmosphere of anti-Semitism” in Europe and the Arab world, an atmosphere that Geller addresses.

The rabbi told The Jewish Week that he, too, believed that “extremist Muslims are a tremendous danger, especially in Europe.” The problem with the Jewish people today is that “we’re milquetoast,” said Rabbi Rosenberg, “in the face of all the threats and insults.” When he heard that Geller’s appearances were being cancelled elsewhere, he said, “Not on my watch” would he buckle and be party to a speaker being silenced and intimidated.

At the Chabad of Great Neck, earlier Sunday, Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky said the Geller event, with over 600 people, was “very nice, very peaceful,” with no threats or opposition. She was very positive. She did not attack Islam or religion. She specifically said that we are only opposing Hamas, jihadists, terrorism and anti-Semites.”

Geller was invited to the Chabad of Great Neck, after the Great Neck Synagogue cancelled her appearance, said Rabbi Geisinsky, “because she has a message, and it has validity: If there are those who want to attack the Jewish people we should be prepared to stand up and defend ourselves."

"We are now disturbed to learn that Great Neck Chabad and Congregation Beth-El in Edison, New Jersey have offered their homes as alternative platforms for Geller's toxic brand of intolerance: rhetoric which goes beyond political dialogue and crosses the line into hate speech," the group said in a statement.

In October, Rabbis for Human Rights-North America purchased ads in the New York City subway system bearing such slogans as "Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors," to oppose anti-jihad ads placed by Geller's American Freedom Defense Initiative.

"Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg of Congregation Beth-El extended the invitation to me personally this morning, and I commend him for it," Geller told The Jewish Week Thursday. "The cancellation by the Great Neck Synagogue was particularly cowardly, as it sends the message that if leftists and Muslims defame those they hate loudly enough and for a long enough time, they will succeed in getting them silenced."

Great Neck Synagogue on Thursday morning cited security concerns and rising costs associated with the event in announcing the cancellation.

"As the notoriety and media exposure of the planned program this Sunday have increased, so has the legal liability and potential security exposure of our institution and its member families," said the executive board of the Orthodox congregation in an email to members.

"In an era of heightened security concerns it is irresponsible to jeopardize the safety of those who call Great Neck Synagogue home, especially our children, even at the risk of diverting attention from a potentially important voice in the ongoing debate."

In an earlier email before the venue change Geller said " While I understand the synagogue's action, I deplore the cancellation."

Protests and counterprotests were planned for the event, which would also feature Greg Buckley, Sr., whose 21-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Greg Buckley of Oceanside, L.I., was killed last August by a policeman in Afghanistan.

The event, according to one e-mail, was planned to enable Buckley to tell of his son’s murder and “to shine the spotlight on the plight of our brave young soldiers and military families and their demand for respect and justice from our government, which has so far been denied.”

But those questioning the event focused on Geller’s appearance.

“She is very much anti-Syrian and anti-Muslim and has said she would use our holy book, the Koran, as a door stopper,” said Habeeb Ahmed, who is one of 14 Nassau County Human Rights Commissioners and the first vice president of the Islamic Center of Long Island.

"We are now disturbed to learn that Great Neck Chabad and Congregation Beth-El in Edison, New Jersey have offered their homes as alternative platforms for Geller's toxic brand of intolerance: rhetoric which goes beyond political dialogue and crosses the line into hate speech," the group said in a statement.

In October, Rabbis for Human Rights-North America purchased ads in the New York City subway system bearing such slogans as "Help stop bigotry against our Muslim neighbors," to oppose anti-jihad ads placed by Geller's American Freedom Defense Initiative.

Ahmed said that when he learned of her scheduled appearance, he called the synagogue and “left a message with the rabbi’s office saying it was not appropriate for a house of worship to invite Ms. Geller, whom the ADL [Anti-Defamation League] and the Southern Poverty Law Center have said is a hate monger. … She will be dividing the community. We have worked hard to bring Jews and Muslims together in general and in Great Neck in particular, where for more than 20 years we have had programs and a dialogue between American Muslims and Jews.”

In her first email to The Jewish Week Thursday, Geller said "It is a very sad day for freedom-loving peoples when fascist tactics trump free speech. This reinforces a terrible precedent: that Islamic supremacists and leftists can get whatever they want, and silence their opponents, by keeping up pressure on decent people until they cave in ...

"In mosques and Islamic centers, the most vitriolic jihad supporters and preachers of hate speak freely. No one complains. No one demonstrates. No one utters a word of protest. But my work that has been consistently in defense of human rights is not allowed to be given a hearing."

Jeff Wiesenfeld, a member of the shul, supported the cancellation in a mass email on Thursday. "Our synagogue did what it HAD TO DO. However, it bodes ill for all of us. OUR community was convulsed, but the Islamists and their enablers won."

The controversy against Geller’s appearance is the latest in a series of free-speech skirmishes to hit the Jewish community in recent weeks. A Brooklyn College event featuring supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BBS) movement led to a raucous free-speech fight, and a panel on Israel last weekend was hosted by a liberal congregation in Chelsea — but only after a liberal Upper West Side synagogue canceled the original event, for fear that BDS would be discussed.

The fight to keep Geller from speaking, however, is a bit different. Many of the other fights have been waged by conservative, pro-Israel members of the community against the BDS movement, against liberal author Peter Beinart and even against film festivals that put the experiences of Israeli Arabs in the spotlight. The Geller protest was being waged largely from the left and from the interfaith community.

An e-mail in support of Geller was critical of Ahmed for “mobilizing a lynch mob of local liberal activists and community organizations to harass Rabbi [Dale] Polakoff from Great Neck Synagogue with hundreds of phone calls, demanding he cancel the event or protests will ensue. … It is an absolute disgrace that a man of public office should roll out a campaign of intimidation and censorship because he objects to the viewpoint of one of the speakers.”

As a result of Ahmed’s e-mails in which he identified himself as a county Human Rights Commissioner, the Nassau County Attorney’s office launched an investigation last week to determine whether Ahmed “misused his title,” according to Brian Nevin, a senior policy adviser to Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

“They are looking to see if any rules in the county charter were broken,” Nevin said. “It may be that there is no policy — and he has apologized.”

Also voicing his concern about Geller’s appearance is the Rev. Thomas Goodhue, executive director of the Long Island Council of Churches.

“I never intended to organize a massive protest [against her appearance], but a lot of people are concerned,” he said. “A number of rabbis I spoke to are concerned, and I believe she presents a very bad image of Judaism.”

He said that when he first heard of her planned appearance he called the synagogue and spoke with one of the rabbis to verify it.

“My call was meant to be in the form of a heads up — that there could be problems,” Rev. Goodhue said. “She has the right to speak — and I am certainly not going to go — but I have to question whether it is appropriate for a house of worship to give her the microphone. … I tried to convey to the rabbi that I would be deeply offended if a church invited a hate monger to come.”

Geller said in an e-mail interview that when she has spoken in the past there was “pressure from leftists and Islamic supremacists to get me canceled … but the pressure has seldom been this intense.”

One reason, she suggested, is that “in general, leftists and Islamic supremacists are growing increasingly desperate: they know that they are perpetrating a Goebbels-like Big Lie, and so even though they have immense influence in the media and in government, they are avid to silence anyone who speaks the truth, because they fear how the truth, even when spoken in a small venue, exposes them.”

Asked if she ever said that she uses the Koran as a doorstop, Geller replied that her comment about “coffee-table size Korans” given out by an American-Islamic group “was a joke, a rhetorical flourish.”

In response to the countless phone calls and e-mails Great Neck Synagogue received from both supporters and critics of the event, it issued the following statement:

“Great Neck Synagogue rejects the categorizing of any religious majority based on the actions of a minority. It does though believe that it is absolutely appropriate and with independence of free speech to speak about the actions of such a minority and to evaluate their impact on the perception of the majority of their co-religionists, and on the community in general. It is within such a framework that the Men’s Club has invited Pamela Geller to speak. She will be joined by Greg Buckley, Sr. father of Marine Corporal Gregory Buckley Jr., who was murdered by Jihadists.”

Both sides in this issue are claiming that the other is using devious tactics to galvanize support for their message. And just as Rev. Goodhue said his organization is not calling for the event to be cancelled, so too did the ADL deny rumors that it too wanted to see it called off.

Etzion Neuer, director of community service and policy for the ADL’s New York region, said his organization’s only role was to call the synagogue to make sure it was aware of Geller’s views.

Neuer said Geller is “seen as a pro-Israel advocate or part of a movement to counter extremism. But when you scratch the surface, what you get is less about making a legitimate case for Israel and more that is anti-Islamic bigotry. Part of what makes her problematic is that there are real legitimate concerns about radical interpretations of Islam, which the ADL has spoken about forcefully. But Geller, under the guise of fighting radical Islam, absolutely demonizes an entire religion. In directing her rhetoric at the entire Islamic faith, she fuels anti-Islamic bigotry.”

Asked about the ADL’s assessment, Geller wrote: “It is a shame that the ADL long ago abandoned its mission of defending Jews and now devotes its time to attacking Jews who deviate from its leftist and self-defeating political line. I have consistently invited peaceful Muslims who sincerely reject the Koran’s exhortations to violence and hatred to join in my efforts, and am doing them out of love for Muslims and a desire that all people be freed from oppression.”

An e-mail urging attendance at the event said supporters hoped to “gather in force” at the synagogue April 14 before the 10 a.m. program.

“We need to assemble a big crowd inside as well as outside with flags and signs: ‘We will not be silent against jihad,’ ‘Commissioner Ahmed must resign!’ ‘We will not be censored!’ ‘Support Israel, Defeat Jihad,’ and ‘Justice for LCpl Buckley.”

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/16/2013 - 14:32.

For the record, Rabbi Rosenberg did not receive an "email" threatening his synagogue with a firebombing. the comment in question is found in response to Rosenberg's comments on the JTA's web site (See http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/04/11/3124046/great-neck-temple-nixes-appearance-by-controversial-islam-critic-pamela-geller).

The comment is ambiguous. It appears to praise the Great Neck syangogue for cancelling the event ("Victory for humanity and decency") but worries that the GREAT NECK synagogue will be targeted as a result. But even if it refers to Rosenberg's synagogue, it's not clear whether it is threatening violence or is worried about it.

For the record, the Edison Police Dept and the prosecutor's office are taking this seriously as a bias crime. Obviously the Edison police and prosecutor feel the threat is against my synagogue and the person who emailed this, according to the police has a history of bias and bigotry. I guess the damage done to my garage door with 40 indentations is imaginary. The Edison police are investigating.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Pamela Geller speaks in Edison, NJ at Cong. Beth-El - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGWbiRUdRHg
... After her speaking engagement at the Great Neck Synagogue was cancelled due to intense pressure exerted by a combination of Islamist and

It seems that in countries throughout the Western world, and among Jews in particular, the dhimmi virus is out of control. I am sure there are Muslims who would gladly play orchestral music with Jews then go back to the mosques and preach how Jews are the progeny of apes and pigs and caused 9/11. It is people like Geller who stand between our freedoms and the descent of this country into a PC tyranny. If you don't believe me, try living in England, where the British all but destroy their culture to appease Islam. Imams can preach the vilest Jew and Christian hatred from their mosques, but if you so much as sneeze the word Islam you can find yourself before a human rights council for a hate crime or racial offense. Try being a Christian in Egypt, where your churches are burned to the ground or your people murdered as infidels. Try being a Jew in certain European cities like Malmo, where attacks against Jews are at their highest level than since WWII, and they are perpetrated by Muslims. Why is offense to Islam a greater crime now than Muslim terror? Just ask the Foot Hood massacre families for some insight into that one. When I see Jews quake in their PC boots before Muslim radicals and refuse to fight back, I get an idea how the Holocaust was allowed to occur.

Do we still live in the United States of America? I was offended that Ms.Geller was first invited and then disinvited! How rude!The Great Neck Synagogue could have called in the police to secure the event.Shame on them! I wish to praise Rabbi Rosenberg and Chabad for not being cowards and having the decency to allow an opinion to be heard. In addition the Jewish Week has our praise since they listed the two new venues while the Jewish Daily Forward continues to hide the news that Ms.Gellar is now invited to speak at two additional location and one in Great Neck itself!While no synagogue MUST permit Ms.Gellar to speak the notion that she not be allowed is wrong for the following reason.People want to hear her!

Funny how I attend Jum'mah prayers EVERY Friday at different mosques and communities and have NEVER heard any "antisemitic talk" in 21+ years as a Muslim.

No Jewish person can claim to have attended more Jum'mahs than a Muslim.....and be speaking the truth. I want to know Pamela Geller's source for the misinformation that she promotes! I'd also like to know the Terrorism Research Institute Study's source of "information" as well. Did they pay spies who "reported" what they wanted the Institute to believe what was said to "earn their keep"? Who knows?

Further, while claiming that "moderate Muslims should speak out against 'radical Muslims'", she defames the ADL, a moderate Jewish organization, which speak out against its own "radical Jews" (her, for example)! What a hypocrite she is!!

To be clear: Pamela Geller may spew whatever lie she'd like to disseminate against Islam and Muslims as she always does. She can rent a hall or hotel venue and charge $X.00 per person to validate and nurture their own hate and irrational fear that they, too, have for Islam and Muslims. But the leadership of places of worship should see that their places of worship do not offer their platforms of worship to be demeaned by liars and hatemongers, such as Pamela Geller.

For the person claiming that Islam is a "violent religion", please do your own study and not take the snippets of Islamaphobes posted onto their own anti-Islamic blogs. Sure....it's violent....if one reads their blogs that snatch ayats (verses) taken out of time and context. But then, one could make the same case for the Torah and the Bible. But rational people don't make such hasty, biased judgments.

in the end of days, the question is, what does the religion preach
everything else is BS. your religion preaches things that are abhorrent to you, kol hakavod, but have you ever spoken out publicly against the desTRuctron and idolatry that your religion preaches, 'I cannot father why, HaShem let esauv go, and start this whole destructive story, i am, as , many here, are, NOT a fully educated Jew. but the hate attacks, against Pamela Geller are , BEYOND THE PALE. THANK YOU FOR READING,

It is not a matter of whether or not I personally agree with or endorse everything Ms. Geller says, writes, or does. It is, rather, that I believe everyone has a right to be heard by people who want to hear them. I would never force anyone to hear Ms. Geller, but neither will I stand by while thugs threaten violence merely because they do not like the message being delivered,” Rabbi DR. BERNHARD Rosenberg

People must refuse to legitimatize those who denounce all members of a particular religion. You can denounce the current Likud government in Israel, but if you defame all Jews, or Judaism in general, advocates of religious pluralism in America must protest loudly and effectively. Likewise, if you criticize all Muslims, as Ms. Geller has done repeatedly, those who believe in the American way of life must likewise protest. Ms. Geller's recent tactic of trying to split congregations in various Synagogues is extremely dangerous. The best way to respond is not to demand that she be denied free speech, but to educate people as to what she really has said and done in the past. It will quickly become clear that her scurrilous and often obscene comments about Muslims, President Obama, Black people and people who refuse to embrace her extremism are simply not appropriate for a house of worship.

One must also ask why the Israel Embassy has not spoken out clearly against her attempts to represent hate-mongering as an appropriate form of support for Israel. Could it be that the Likud government, and many of its MPs in the Knesset, agree that the strategic use of bigotry is a good way to make the case for Israel? If so, they're sadly mistaken, because it cannot help but hurt Israel, and hurt the cause of peace in Israel/Palestine.

She will be speaking at my synagogue at my invitation this Sunday at 7pm. Congregation Beth El 91 JEFFERSON BLVD. EDISON NJ.

She has the right to talk. She is not advocating violence. As to his claim that she "demonizes an entire religion" How about this study:

Terrorism Research Institute Study: 51% of mosques in the U.S. have texts on site rated as severely advocating violence; 30% have texts rated as moderately advocating violence; and 19% have no violent texts at all.
http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/sharia-adherence-mosque-survey/html RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG

I don't understand what all the fuss is about here ? Islam is a very violent ideology, that is if you are a non muslim. Read the doctrine (Quran + Sunnah) for yourself and see what I mean. One third of the doctrine talks about waging Jihad against the non believer (kafir). Only 14% of the doctrine is about religion. There is nothing, absolutely nothing positive in the doctrine for Kafirs, all non Muslims. Islam does not even have a golden rule. If not for the murderous rampage Mohammed went on in Medina, the world would not know Islam. Read it yourself, they tell us right there what there goals are for us.
Pamela Geller is simply telling the truth about this ideology. I venture to say most people have just taken the word of the media or what they read from an Imam in their local paper. Go to the source to find the truth. It is not pretty for all non Muslims.

You are absolutely correct. We are lied to about Ben Gazi. We are lied to about the terrorist mosque in Boston that sent the Tsarnaev brothers out to avenge Anwar Alawhaki, who was a friend of theirImam, a crazy convert, who needed a religion to justify rape and beating of women. He is the cryptic "misha " who transformed the brother. The Saudis are spending billions on jihad In a America and they are winning . We are fools waiting to be slaughtered. You cannot appease them. Look at Europe, and see how we'll that works.